The Hayward High School Farmers, champions of the North Coast Section’s (NCS) 3A East Bay Division played the Cardinal Newman Cardinals of Santa Rosa, champions of the NCS 3A Redwood Empire Division, for the NCS 3A title last Friday. Around the time the Farmers headed to Santa Rosa to play Cardinal Newman High, the temperature in Hayward was about 70 degrees; skies were partly-sunny; and a warmish breeze was blowing. In Santa Rosa, the temperature was 51 degrees and a cold, wet, windy front was settling in from the north. The climate change alone may have done them in.

The Farmers jumped out in front in the first quarter when lineman Clement Ani picked up a Cardinal Newman fumble and rumbled sixty-four yards for a Hayward touchdown to give the Farmers a 6-0 lead as the extra-point kick was no good. Hayward increased its first quarter lead to 9-0 when Giovanni Granillo kicked a 39-yard field goal which came after another Cardinal Newman lost fumble.

Newman, playing in its back yard at Santa Rosa High, came alive later in the first quarter on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Lingle to wide receiver Ethan Crandall to make the score 9-7, and end the first quarter. Lingle played an outstanding game, extending his personal playoff win streak to seven in a row over the past two seasons. “He was able to do what he wanted,” admitted Farmer coach Casey Moreno.

In the second quarter the Cardinals took over the game, first with a 29-yard TD pass from Lingle to wide receiver Michael Derutte that put Cardinal Newman up 14-9, then on a three yard run by tailback Brian Hutton, to take a 21-9 lead at half-time as Granillo converted on both extra point kicks.

Hayward made a game of it with 5:34 left in the third quarter when running back Troy Evans finally broke loose for a forty-three yard score. Unlike last week, Evans could not elude the swarming Cardinal defense which held him to a mere one yard rushing total in the first half. The extra point attempt was blocked and the Farmers now trailed 21-15. The comeback was short lived as Cardinal Newman answered with a score late in the third as Hutton capped a ten-play, 68-yard drive with a three yard touchdown run, putting the Cardinals up 27-15. A successful extra-point would end the third quarter scoring.

The Farmers had one more chance late in the fourth when quarterback Robert Romero hit Jarmaine Jenning with a nine yard scoring pass. The extra-point cut the lead to six, 28-22. Hayward followed with an onside kick attempt that did not go the required ten yards thus giving Cardinal Newman the ball. With little time left, the Cardinals were able to run out the clock, but only after a controversial fumble recovery went to the Cardinals.

For Hayward, it was a very successful year as they won their Hayward Area League with an undefeated 8-0 conference record. They went on to clinch NCS 3A East Bay Division title as reported last week in TCV. This was their first division title in 27 years. Plus, the Farmers’ final record of 12 and 2 represented a school record for wins in a season.

For Cardinal Newman, 13-1, it is on to the California Division III (small schools by enrollment) State Championship Game this coming Saturday, December 16 in Southern California at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Their opponent will be Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, undefeated at 14-0. They’re ranked second in California in some polls behind only Division I (large schools) De La Salle, and ranked sixth in the nation by USA Today. The game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. kick-off and will be televised by Fox Sports-Net Bay Area (FSNBA).

The Division II (medium schools) game pits Palo Alto, 12-1, against Lutheran of Orange, 12-1. Game time is 3:00 p.m. with all games at the Home Depot Center on December 16 and televised by FSNBA.

The final game, Division I, will have USA Today’s national number one ranked De La Salle of Concord, 13-0, taking on Canyon High of Canyon County, 11-2. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a tape delay broadcast on FSNBA at 10 p.m. the same day.